AU4014399A

AU4014399A - A sliding panel closer

Info

Publication number: AU4014399A
Application number: AU40143/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leslie Ernest Ward
Original assignee: Ward Mark Steven
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-15
Filing date: 1999-07-15
Publication date: 2000-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-15
Also published as: AU753560B2

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 4* r *0e* a. Name of Applicant Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: LESLIE ERNEST WARD LESLIE ERNEST WARD

AHEARNS

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys GPO Box 1149 Brisbane Queensland 4001 "A SLIDING PANEL CLOSER" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: A SLIDING PANEL CLOSER This invention relates to a sliding panel closer, being usable for any opening for a sliding door, window, panel or the like, hereinafter for convenience referred to as "panels".

Various types of panel closers have been designed in the past, utilising a control cord extending between a movable panel edge and a fixed door jamb. One of these, i.e. the panel edge or the door jamb, has the free end of the cord attached thereto 10 while the other has attached thereto a vertical tube housing a weighted plunger to which the other end of the cord is attached.

For purposes of illustration, there will be described a closer eeo.

of this general type arranged so that the tube is attached to the jamb and the free end of the cord is attached to the panel 15 itself. However, it will be understood that reversed connections may be used, with the parts being designed for connection to either jamb or either panel edge. All such arrangements fall within the expression used herein of "a sliding panel closer of the type described".

20 While the aforementioned types of panel closers have proved reasonably effective in use, I have found that further efficiency and simplicity are desired, and the present invention has been devised for the purpose of providing such a panel closer which may be made inexpensively, will be of simple construction, and which will work as effectively or more effectively than those hitherto designed. A further object of the invention is to provide a closer of this nature which will be most effective when operating pneumatically but which could be simply modified for hydraulic operation if so desired. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides broadly, according to one aspect, in a sliding panel closer of the type described including a vertical tube, a cord connected to a weighted plunger within the tube and extending out of the top of the tube for pulling the plunger upwards when the panel is manually opened, the weight of the plunger causing it to slide back downwards to exert a panel closing action, characterised in that the plunger includes a piston adapted to cooperate with sealing means associated therewith in such manner 10 that downward movement of the piston on its downstroke causes the S" sealing means to be effective for compression of a chamber in the Ceo.

tube beneath the piston while the upstroke of the piston causes the sealing means to be ineffective or of reduced effectiveness for release of pressure of said chamber, the lowermost end of the tube having a bleed valve assembly including an adjustable bleed valve movable relative to a valve seat permitting entry of air on the upstroke at a predetermined rate to the said chamber and exit of air similarly on the downstroke.

Preferably, the seal means associated with the piston includes an O-ring closely contacting the tube wall so as normally to be retained thereagainst, the piston having a reduced diameter portion able to slide therethrough but having an upper flange adapted to compress the O-ring and cause sealing on the downstroke while a lower flange and flow-past grooves allow downflow of air to the chamber on the upstroke of the plunger when the O-ring is engaged by said lower flange.

It is also preferred that the plunger has its piston located at its lower end and separated from an uppermost guide portion by a middle section of lesser diameter, the piston having a -4peripheral groove-like lubricating chamber at the upper edge of the upper flange of the piston. Preferably to the bleed valve assembly is constituted by a lowermost sealing plug of the tube, said plug having a spigot end and O-ring seal withing the tube end, while the plug body has a central bore and valve seat communicating with a screw-threadedly adjustable bleed valve adapted to be moved at right angles to the tube end.

It is also preferred that a portion of the cord directly above the plunger has spaced connections to an encircling tension :i 10 spring which is normally extended to accommodate tautness of the cord in operation, but adapted to reduce in length to take up the slack of the cord when necessary, such as when the plunger on its downstroke takes some seconds to overcome inertia. Suitably, the eeoc cord exits the upper end of the tube over a pulley held rotatably 9.* in mounting bracket means of a pulley housing from which the cord passes horizontally out through an outlet slot of the housing.

In one embodiment the free end of the cord is fitted with a retaining knob adapted to engage in or about the mouth of a cordguide slot in a mounting and guide bracket for the cord externally of the tube. Other features of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 shows in perspective view a sliding door opening in which a door edge supports the free end of the cord and the adjacent door jamb supports the vertical tube for the weighted plunger; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the components of the sliding panel closer of Fig. 1 with the parts shown in exploded and separated relationship; Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the door closer of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the operation of the components as the plunger is lifted upon opening the door; and Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the arrangement of components as the plunger moves downwardly to return the door to closed position.

10 Referring initially to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the sliding panel 10 may be an access door or any other type of panel, eeoc including an insect screen or a security screen for example, the panel 10 having a lock component 11 on its leading edge 12 for cooperation with another lock component 13 on the adjacent door jamb 14. In this case, the closer indicated generally at 15 has a vertical tube 16 adjacent the door jamb 14, the lower end of the tube 16 having a lowermost sealing plug 17 provided with an affixing screw 18 and a bleed valve assembly 19. The upper end of the tube 16 has a pulley housing 20 with top affixing means 21, while the cord 22 extends horizontally for securing to the top of the panel on its overhead frame member 23 at which an end knob 24 is engaged with a cord guide bracket The components of the closer 15 are shown in detail in Fig.

2 while the effects on the upstroke and downstroke respectively, of the plunger 26 will be clear from Figs. 3 and 4. It will be seen that the cord 22 is connected to a weighted plunger 26 within the tube 16 so that the plunger 26 will be pulled upwards when the panel 10 is manually opened, whereafter the weight of the plunger 26 causes it to slide back down (downstroke action) -6to exert a panel closing action. It will be seen that the plunger 26 includes a piston 27 adapted to cooperate with sealing means 28 in such manner that the downstroke of the piston 27 causes the sealing means 28 to be effective for compression of a chamber 29 in the tube 16 beneath the piston 27, while the upstroke of the piston 27 causes the sealing means 28 to be ineffective or of reduced effectiveness for release of pressure of said chamber 29, the lowermost end of the tube 16, as mentioned in relation to Fig. 1, having the bleed valve assembly 19 which includes an 10 adjustable bleed valve 30 movable relative to a valve seat 31 ooeoo permitting entry of air on the upstroke (see Fig. 3) at a predetermined rate to the chamber 29 and exit of air (see Fig.

4) similarly on the downstroke.

The sealing means 28 in this instance includes an 0-ring 32 closely contacting the wall 33 of the tube 16 so as normally to be retained thereagainst, the piston 27 having a reduced diameter portion 34 able to slide through the O-ring 32 but having an upper flange 35 adapted to compress the O-ring 32 and cause sealing on the downstroke (see Fig. 4) while a lower flange 36 and flow-past grooves 37 allow downflow of air to the chamber 29 (see Fig. 3) on the upstroke of the plunger 26 when the O-ring is engaged by the aforementioned lower flange 36.

It will be noted that the plunger 26 has its piston 27 located at its lower end and it is separated from an uppermost guide portion 38 by a middle section 39 of lesser diameter, the piston 27 having a peripheral groove-like lubricating chamber at the upper edge 41 of the upper flange 35 of the piston 27. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bleed valve assembly 19 is in the lowermost sealing plug 17 including a spigot end 42 and O-ring -7seal 43 with the end of the tube 16. The plug body 44 has a central bore 45 and valve seat 31 communicating with the bleed valve 30 which is screw-threadedly adjustable and adapted to be moved in the direction at right angles to the tube 16 as apparent from Fig. 3.

A further feature of the invention lies in the fact that portion of the cord 22 directly above the plunger 26 has spaced connection points 46, 47 for an encircling tension spring 48 which is normally extended as in Fig. 3 to accommodate the 10 tautness of the cord 22 in normal operation. However, the spring 48 will return to its initial "set" and reduce in length to take

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up the slack of the cord 22 when necessary, such as when the plunger 26 on its downstroke (see Fig. 4) takes some seconds to overcome inertia.

At the upper end of the tube 16, the cord 22 exits over a pulley 49 in the pulley housing 20 in which the pulley 49 is held rotatably in a mounting bracket means 50, the cord 22 passing *...horizontally out through an outlet slot 51 of the housing 20. It will be seen that the free end of the cord 22 is fitted with a retaining knob 24 adapted to engage in or about the mouth 52 of a cord-guide slot 53 in a mounting and guide bracket 25 for the cord 22, externally of the tube 16 and adapted to be secured in this instance to the panel upper frame member 23.

The manner of using or operating the panel closer 15 will be clear from the drawings and the above descriptions. When the plunger 26 is raised, the piston 27 moves independently of the O-ring 32 forming the sealing means 28, the O-ring remaining "suspended" on the wall 33 of the tube 16. However, the piston then picks up the O-ring 32 on further upward travel and allows -8air to pass from above the piston to the chamber 29 therebeneath, this being possible because of the clearances as illustrated and the provision of the steps or flow-past grooves 37. On the downward stroke, the middle part 34 of the piston 27 passes through the O-ring 32 until the latter is picked up on the lower bevelled face of the upper flange 35 as apparent from Fig. 4, causing an outward pressure on the seal and allowing a build up of air pressure in the chamber 29 between the piston and the bottom sealing plug.

10 The tension spring 48 is a "retractor spring" which will be found useful to keep the cord 22 taut when the door speed over- Uo rides downward speed of the plunger. When the weight initially descends it travels fast until the air pressure builds up in the Schamber 29 between the piston and the bottom of the cylinder or m U tube so that the door is inclined to over-ride the cord and thus allow it to sag. When this takes place the spring 48 contracts *Ueo ,to take up the slack in the cord.

While sliding door closers as described and illustrated will be found very effective in achieving the objects for which the invention has been devised, it will be clear that many modifications of constructional detail and design are possible.

For example, the pulley for the cord may be designed offset for a number of reasons, such as the affording of a central lift of the piston to eliminate drag on the cylinder wall. It will also allow for the selection of a larger pulley to make the operation lighter, while it will be further appreciated that reduction in the number of revolutions will reduce the axle wear. Other variations will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and will be deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

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Claims

2. A sliding panel closer according to Claim 1 and further characterized in that the seal means associated with the piston includes an 0-ring closely contacting the tube wall so as normally to be retained thereagainst, the piston having a reduced diameter portion able to slide therethrough but having an upper flange adapted to compress the 0-ring and cause sealing on the downstroke while a lower flange and flow-past grooves allow downflow of air to the chamber on the upstroke of the plunger when the O-ring is engaged by said lower flange. -11-
3. A sliding panel closer according to Claim 2 and further characterized in that the plunger has its piston located at its lower end and separated from an uppermost guide portion by a middle section of lesser diameter, the piston having a peripheral groove-like lubricating chamber at the upper edge of the upper flange of the piston.
4. A sliding panel closer according to any one of the preceding claims, and further characterized in that the bleed valve assembly is constituted by a lowermost sealing plug of the tube, 10 said plug having a spigot end and O-ring seal withing the tube 99999* S end, while the plug body has a central bore and valve seat *9oo communicating with a screw-threadedly adjustable bleed valve adapted to be moved at right angles to the tube end.
5. A sliding panel closer according to any one of the preceding claims, and further characterized in that a portion of the cord directly above the plunger has spaced connections to an encircling tension spring which is normally extended to accommodate tautness of the cord in operation, but adapted to reduce in length to take up the slack of the cord when necessary, such as when the plunger on its downstroke takes some seconds to overcome inertia.
6. A sliding panel closer according to any one of the preceding claims, and further characterized in that the cord exits the upper end of the tube over a pulley held rotatably in mounting bracket means of a pulley housing from which the cord passes horizontally out through an outlet slot of the housing.
7. A sliding panel closer according to any one of the preceding claims, and further characterized in that the free end of the cord is fitted with a retaining knob adapted to engage in or -12- about the mouth of a cord-guide slot in a mounting and guide bracket for the cord externally of the tube. A sliding panel closer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 15 th day of July, 1999. LESLIE ERNEST WARD By his Patent Attorneys AHEARNS oo to* 9